As the trade deadline creeps closer, the Padres are staring at a roster that still needs answers, and offense sits near the top of the list. San Diego has also been tied to bullpen help, and president of baseball operations A.J. Preller has been mentioned as a possible aggressive player if the right deal comes together.
One idea comes from former MLB general manager Jim Bowden of The Athletic, who floated a straight-up framework that would send All-Star outfielder Jarren Duran from the Red Sox to the Padres in exchange for Kash Mayfield.
"How about Jarren Duran going from the Boston Red Sox to the Padres for Kash Mayfield," Bowden said. "Look, Duran brings power, he brings speed combination."
Duran has already been linked to San Diego before, and the fit is easy to see on paper. The Padres need more production, and Duran would bring a left-handed bat with some pop. He has also had a rough season, which is part of why Boston might have to move him while his value is down.
This year, Duran is hitting .196 with 12 home runs and 39 runs batted in, along with an OPS of .604.
His profile has always been built heavily around athleticism, though the bat speed is real. When he broke out two years ago, pitchers challenged him with fastballs and he made them pay. That has changed over time as opponents have adjusted, and this season he has seen fastballs only 46.3% of the time.
The bigger problem has been what happens when pitchers go away from the heater. Duran has hit .156 against breaking and off-speed pitches this season, a sharp drop from .252 against the same pitches in 2024.
Even with the struggles, Duran still fits the mold of a player who could rebound with a fresh start. For the Padres, that makes him the kind of buy-low swing that could pay off if they believe the change of scenery unlocks more.
Boston could also be in a position to sell in other areas, which opens the door for a larger conversation between the two clubs. San Diego has been linked to Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman multiple times, and that only adds to the sense that the Red Sox could be a natural trade partner for Preller. A multi-player deal could allow the Padres to address more than one need at once.
Mayfield would be a meaningful price. The left-hander is currently pitching at High-A and has posted a 3.22 ERA over 12 starts this season, striking out 53 batters in 44.2 innings. He is the No. 4 prospect in the Padres system and has shown better control as he’s gained experience.
There are still questions in his profile, including velocity that has dipped to 90-92 mph at times in the California League, but the upside is there. Trading a top-five prospect for a player coming off a down year would carry risk, though Duran has already shown he can perform at an All-Star level.
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